Auto-Immune Pancreatitis: The Diagnostic Role of Imaging Studies

João Ressurreição, Maria Bali, Celso Matos

Abstract

Auto-immune pancreatitis is an uncommon and underdiagnosed pathology. Its clinical picture is not specific and the diagnosis is therefore difficult. Imaging studies have a crucial role in the diagnostic process and also in the follow-up of treatment. With the objective of emphasizing the importance of imaging in the correct diagnosis of this pathology, the authors report the case of a patient with longterm unspecific abdominal complaints that was diagnosed as auto-immune pancreatitis after laboratorial and imaging investigation. Assuming this diagnosis it was instituted treatment with oral methylprednisolone, which succeeded, with progressive resolution of the clinical, laboratorial and imaging findings.